The Grade I Santa Anita Derby, the West Coast’s major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby, lost its morning-line favorite for the second time in three years Thursday when Premier Pegasus was scratched from Saturday’s race because of a hairline fracture in the cannon bone of his left foreleg.

Premier Pegasus, a record 7 3/4-length winner of the Grade II San Felipe Stakes in his most recent start, was the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 11. With the scratch, Jaycito is the new morning-line favorite at 2-1 and Silver Medallion is the 7-2 second choice.

The Pamplemousse, trained by Julio Canani, was scratched the morning of the 2009 Santa Anita Derby because of a leg injury. He never raced again.

According to jockey Alonso Quinonez’s agent Vince DeGregory, Premier Pegasus galloped over Santa Anita’s infield training track Thursday morning and was “walking off” after he returned to the barn. A veterinarian was summoned and X-rays later revealed the fracture.

“Being in the business as long as I have (more than 50years), we have to learn to accept things we have no control over,” DeGregory said. “Your emotions get more involved because of the prestige situation of the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby.

“Your hopes are up so high, especially for Alonso Quinonez. It looked like he was going to win the Santa Anita Derby and everybody was already counting him into the Kentucky Derby. I was saying let’s get through the Santa Anita Derby first and hopefully we’ll get to the Kentucky Derby.”

DeGregory said the injury is not career-threatening. He said he talked to trainer Myung Kwon Cho, who told him the Fusaichi Pegasus colt will miss two to three months of training and hopefully return by the fall.

“I feel bad for (Cho) more than I do for Alonso Quinonez or myself,” DeGregory said. “Alonso has a lot of chances ahead to win a Santa Anita Derby and a Kentucky Derby. But it’s not too often you have a horse that you can run in the Kentucky Derby.”

The 68-year-old Cho, who has only six horses in his barn and lost a promising 3-year-old earlier when Riveting Reason injured a hoof, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

DeGregory said Quinonez was devastated by the news.

“I asked Alonso, `What would you have thought if he had broke down in the race? That would really tear your heart apart,”‘ he said. “And when I said that to Alonso, he realized that you need to enjoy the thrill that you get each day you ride the horse because we don’t know what’s going to happen out there.”

The injury also means Premier Pegasus will miss the chance at the Preakness 5.5 bonus, a $5.5 million bonanza for winning the San Felipe, the Santa Anita Derby and the Preakness Stakes on May 21.

Premier Pegasus has won four of five starts for earnings of $293,400.

Anthony’s Cross, winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, and Silver Medallion, who won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, are still eligible for the Preakness bonus.

“Very sad for Mr. Cho …” said Bob Baffert, who trains Jaycito, in a text message to the Associated Press. “Never like to hear news like that. You never know when it can happen to you. That’s why my hair is white. We’re all on pins and needles this time of year.”

The original Santa Anita Derby field of 11 could be reduced even further if 50-1 long shot Quail Hill, who’s cross-entered in Sunday’s $100,000 La Puente Stakes on the grass, is also scratched.

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